SHATTERED FANTASIES
1241 Words
The meeting room’s professional setting felt smaller and smaller by the second.
“You have to give me credit if you’re presenting my work to the board, Jerome!”
Elena’s voice cracked on the last word. She hated how desperate it sounded.
Clinton Jerome leaned across the table, close enough that she could smell his coffee breath. His face was red, a vein pulsing at his temple.
“That Valentine’s campaign? The bottle design? The scent story?” He tapped his chest twice. “Mine. I filter the ideas. I refine them. I put my name on them because I’m the one who has to stand in front of people who actually matter.”
Really!?
Elena’s nails dug into her palm. “Then why not tag ‘Marketing Department’? Why does it always have to be Clinton Jerome in big bold letters like you birthed it from your v****a?”
Jerome opened his mouth. The door slammed open, drawing their attention.
A messenger boy from the executive floor stood there, chest heaving. “Mr. Jerome! Impromptu! Mr. Adrian Vale just landed. All department heads downstairs. Now.”
Jerome straightened his tie in one smooth motion. The argument evaporated.
He shot Elena a warning look. “Fix your face. And not a word. We will finish this conversation.” Then he left immediately.
Elena stayed frozen for a few seconds. Both angry, surprised and flustered.
“He's here already?!!!” She squealed. Her eyes wide open and her chin pressing into her neck.Then suddenly she scrambled her way to her desk, did her red lipstick again, smacking loudly and immediately ducked into the supply closet, yanking open the bottom drawer.
White lilies.
She smiled cheekily, most proud of herself.
“Oh so romantic,” she exhaled.
She’d bought them this morning on a stupid whim. After searching His favorites were flowers but not stated what kind, Google said that lilies meant purity. New beginnings. He was turning this branch into the head office. How wonderful. With her in it.
Shhh “It's just flowers,” her pessimistic side discouraged.
Stupid, she knew. But her fingers shook as she trimmed the redundant stems anyway.
“Just act normal,” she whispered to the mirror on the closet door. Her reflection looked back at her. Cream blouse, black pencil skirt.
She brushed the few stray strands of hair off her face and tugged it behind her ear, "You'll Smile. Say ‘Welcome, Mr. Vale. And he'll like you instantly. You’ve got this, Elena Marshall. You’re not invisible today.” she exhaled.
Downstairs, the lobby was a sea of navy suits and tension both happy and professional.
Everyone was standing in two neat lines facing each other with the walk way open between them on the marble entrance like they were greeting royalty.
Elena slipped in at the end, clutching the lilies behind her back.
Angel appeared at her side, already vibrating with energy. “Oh my God. He’s here. The king has returned to the kingdom.”
“Stop,” Elena hissed, but her own pulse was racing also. "That's my knight in shiny armor."
Then the car’s doors finally open.
Adrian Vale.
Six-three tall in charcoal Tom Ford. He has a dark curly but short hair that would make one want to count the strands of hair on a person's head. sharp jaw and striking green eyes like he was calculating the value in everything.
His lips were so pink one would wonder what fruits they would taste like. The perfect definition of a walking artwork.
“Woah,” Elena exclaimed under her breath.
“He's just so handsome riiiii?” Angel nudged Elena.
Elena already forgot how to breathe. She’d seen him on magazine covers. On billboards. In her head at 2am. But in person? He looked even more handsome.
Thump!
Her heart hit her ribs.
Angel grabbed her arm. “Elena! Stop posing! You look like you’re on Vogue!”
“Shut up,” Elena whispered, her cheeks were already flaming. But she didn’t stop. She shifted her weight and smoothed her blouse.
This was her chance, she thought. She stepped forward majestically.
Adrian was also walking toward her now. Maybe he saw the flowers. Maybe he saw her. But he looked pleasant to see her and was already stretching to receive what she had behind her.
Perfect. She beamed.
Elena wore a composed smile on the outside but was squealing silently. “Welcome, Mr. Va—”
Her heel caught on the marble seam.
Oh crap!
Time slowed down but it was only for her. Her arms flew out, fingers grasping the air like there was an invisible pole she could hold to save herself.
The bouquet launched forward off her grip and a lot of its petals exploded.
“Vale…” her voice died down as she slammed chest-first into Adrian Vale.
White lilies buried themselves in his shoulder. Petals slid down his suit. One stuck to his jaw. The stem snapped between them.
For one second, all she could smell was his cologne. Cedar and something like mint. His chest was solid under her hands. She felt it through her thin blouse as her chest were actively pressing against him.
Her cheeks flushed.
But then his eyes snapped open. They were red and watering.
“Get this off me,” he gritted out. “I’m allergic to this shit.”
Two guards moved faster than she could blink. Hands clamped on her arms and yanked her back so hard her other heel snapped. She stumbled, clutching mangled stems to her chest like it was some last resort or something.
The lobby went silent as one hundred-plus people watched.
Adrian took one step back. Wiped his cheek with two fingers and pollen smeared across his skin. He adjusted his cufflink and didn't look at Elena's face for even once. His gaze was clinical and empty. Like she was a stain on his expensive suit.
Or…
Just maybe she was. “Security,” he said.
“Mr. Vale, I swear…”
“Who sent you?” He finally looked at her. His green eyes were flat. “Lilies. My allergy. Cute attempt huh.”
Elena blinked. “Huh?”
A sound ripped through the silence.
“OH. MY. GOD.”
Angel’s hand flew to her mouth from the crowd. Someone snorted. Someone else whispered “assassin” and chuckled loud enough for everyone to hear.
Oh God. He thought this was intentional. He thought she was trying to hurt him. Elena’s face burned so hot she thought she’d combust. “No, Mr. Vale, I just wanted to welcome you. I… I saw your interview, you said you liked flowers and then I checked and this…”
“Security. Hold her here until my meeting ends.” He was already turning away. He looked dead. serious “I’ll question her myself after.”
Elena's words died down in low volume. Her apologetic look fading into humiliation.
He walked past her rudely and didn’t spare her one more glance. Like she’d already been deleted from his mind.
Meeting your celebrity crush for the first time and you just made him think you’re an assassin.
So this was it. Not a meet-cute but rather A meet-ruin.
“I just need to explain,” she told herself, feeling a bit positive already.
“I'll talk to him. It can't be bad,” She smiled.
- Writer
